I always launched off the north end of Preston Point at the Texas Instruments campground (but you have to be an employee or guest of an employee). It wasn't a very good place for cats, but it had a cove with docks so I made it work.

If you can get a support boat, camping on the islands can be a good time.

And on a windy day, it's a lot like ocean sailing because of the long fetches and big waves. I did launch my 17 more than once off of waves.

Some words of caustion:
- Keep a sharp eye on the weather as it comes up really quick. When the t-storms come through, that lake gets extremely rough. I had to dive for the closest shelter a couple of times after ignoring the forecast and warning signs.
- It's a very busy lake on nice summer weekends. You'd think it would be hard to miss seeing a Hobie, but I swear that Texoma has more than it's share of moron, head-up-a$$ powerboaters. Been buzzed more than once. Took to carrying a flare gun. Fired it more than once - including at a guy who buzzed me twice.
- It's a big lake. Take lights for your boat. Sooner or later, you will get caught out after dark. Lake patrol has no sense of humor about unlit boats (rightfully so). Plus, you're taking your life into your hands at night if you don't brightly light your boat. I'd probably take a GPS too cause it's easy to get turned around at night.

Bottom line: Great lake for catting. Lots of room, good fetches, good wind. Easy to not get bored as there's tons to explore. Pack a lunch and a cooler. Make a whole day out of it. If you can get a fleet going, you'll have even more fun.

Brian, thanks for the info. The Burns Run area looks good. I'm assuming I will need beach wheels or can I launch from a ramp? BTW: Do you have beach wheels in stock? I'll be coming through there in May.

If you can score a good campsite, beach wheels would be handy cause you'll pull the boat up near the tree line at night. And I believe there's a soft spot near the ramp. But you should scope it out first. It's been a bunch of years since I visited, and I never actually camped there.

No... We don't normally stock beach wheels. Not sure why. Will be glad to have them waiting for you if you want.

And let's call it a shot across the bow as he was coming in for a third pass. The guy was being a real prick and had it coming. And I was more than a little bit rattled since the wind was light and his first two passes were within 25 feet of me at a fairly high rate of speed in a big boat (30+ feet). I reloaded after the 1st shot, but he kept his distance after that. Happened near Lowe's Highport.

That was the last time I went out on Texoma on a holiday weekend. It was July 4th weekend, 1987, or maybe 1988. I did file a complaint with TPWD since the guy had a Texas sticker. Nothing happened that I'm aware of.

I fired flares two other times. Both before this incident. Both at night when I wasn't sure I was seen by another boat that was closing with me. In both cases, the other boat stopped to see if I was OK. I upgraded my lighting to something much brighter after the 2nd time.

Despite the one jacka$$, I'd sail Texoma on a cat in a heart beat. Though I still tend to stay off the water on holiday weekends. Too much booze, too many amateurs.

Did I ever mention that I've been to the top of Elbert? Along with Massive, LaPlata, Twin Peaks and a bunch of others in that area. Last did Elbert from the hard side in 2001.

Yup. We talked about it at the shop a year or so ago. You may remember us from our white lab we brought into the store.

We're doing a winter peak near Loveland Pass next month and some technical peaks in the San Juans later this year. I'm trying to juggle the regatta schedule with our mountain climbing schedule next summer, but sometimes it seems like there are not enough weekends.

Let me know if you want to go rock climbing in the Wichitas of Oklahoma sometime this spring.

Just South of 70 highway, on the Durant (East) side of the lake, go South all the way to the end of Streetman Road. It ends in the Park. This is where the Mid-Americas was held last year. Nice gentle slope to water and a ramp available too. Texoma is a great lake for sailing.

That's pretty cool.... I suspect lots of people build their own. I would.

One thought. Solid plastic wheels will do well on "hard" surfaces with few obstacles. But in loose sand or rough terrain, you run into the "Shopping Cart hits a Cheerio" syndrome. You can usually overcome those kinds of sudden stops, but it's nice not to have to.

If you can find a source for some inflatable wheels, I'd use them instead.